H.E. Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi, @DCP_Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, represented the Chairperson of the Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, @ymahmoudali, at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, #Ethiopia, under the theme "Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation." In a message delivered on his behalf, she stressed that lasting peace in Africa depends on transforming resource wealth into shared prosperity, strengthening economic sovereignty, mobilizing domestic resources, curbing illicit financial flows and ensuring fair access to development finance. She also emphasized the need to strengthen the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms through effective coordination, predictable financing, preventive diplomacy and sustained implementation, to address cross-border threats and advance the #SilencingTheGuns agenda. Furthermore, she affirmed that regional integration must deliver tangible benefits through the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (@AfCFTA), improved border infrastructure, free movement of people and goods, and stronger cooperation against trafficking and organized crime. She also highlighted the need to strengthen Africa's digital sovereignty, invest in innovation and digital capabilities, and confront cyber threats, disinformation and emerging forms of dependency, while ensuring that women and young people play a meaningful role in shaping peace, governance and the continent's future. She concluded that Africa's sovereignty must translate into prosperity, its institutions into effective action, and its pursuit of peace into tangible improvements in people's lives, grounded in trust, dignity and shared responsibility. Read @ au.int/en/speeches/20261024/… #TanaForum2026 #AfricanUnion #PeaceAndSecurity #Agenda2063

Keynote Remarks by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, @ymahmoudali, at the 3rd Abidjan Border Forum (ABF), Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, S.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, a été reçu en audience par S.E. Alassane Ouattara, Président de la République de Côte d’Ivoire, au Palais présidentiel à Abidjan. Les échanges ont porté sur les principales priorités continentales, notamment la paix et la sécurité, l’intégration régionale, le financement durable de l’Union africaine et la place de l’Afrique dans un environnement international en pleine mutation. Le Président de la Commission @ymahmoudali a salué le leadership du Président Alassane Ouattara @AOuattara_PRCI et son engagement constant en faveur de l’intégration et du développement du continent. Il a notamment rendu hommage à son action en qualité de Champion de l’Union africaine pour l’Agenda 2063, soulignant son rôle dans la promotion de cette vision commune et la mobilisation des États membres en faveur de sa mise en œuvre. Sur la paix et la sécurité, les deux personnalités ont échangé sur l’évolution de la situation au Sahel et dans la région des Grands Lacs, ainsi que sur les risques croissants de régionalisation des conflits. Le Président de la Commission a souligné la nécessité de privilégier des solutions africaines aux crises du continent, de renforcer la coopération régionale et de consolider l’Architecture africaine de paix et de sécurité. S’agissant de l’intégration économique, les échanges ont mis en évidence l’urgence d’accélérer la mise en œuvre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf), notamment par la réduction des barrières non tarifaires, l’harmonisation des procédures douanières, le développement des infrastructures et la facilitation de la circulation transfrontalière des personnes et des marchandises. Le renforcement des chaînes de valeur régionales et l’accroissement du commerce intra-africain ont également été soulignés comme des leviers essentiels de transformation productive et d’approfondissement de l’intégration continentale. Le Président de la Commission a également mis en avant l’importance de l’Agence africaine de notation de crédit (AfCRA), appelée à contribuer à une évaluation plus juste et mieux adaptée des économies africaines, à corriger certaines perceptions défavorables du risque africain et à améliorer les conditions d’accès du continent aux marchés internationaux de capitaux. Dans un contexte marqué par des incertitudes géopolitiques croissantes, les échanges ont également souligné l’urgence de renforcer la mobilisation des ressources propres et l’autonomie financière de l’Union africaine, afin de permettre au continent d’assumer davantage la responsabilité de ses priorités et de son développement. Pour sa part, le Président Alassane Ouattara a salué l’action de l’Union africaine et les efforts du Président de la Commission. Il a réaffirmé le soutien constant de la Côte d’Ivoire à une Afrique qui assume pleinement ses responsabilités en matière de paix, de sécurité et de développement. Il a insisté sur la nécessité pour le continent de s’appuyer davantage sur ses propres ressources, ses compétences et ses institutions afin de maîtriser son avenir et d’occuper toute la place qui lui revient dans les affaires internationales. Lire @ au.int/fr/pressreleases/2026…

At the opening of the 3rd Abidjan Border Forum in Abidjan,  Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, called for African borders to become gateways to cooperation, peace, security & shared prosperity. He commended H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire & Champion of Agenda 2063, for his steadfast commitment to Africa’s continental development agenda, & thanked the Ivorian authorities for their hospitality. Addressing the Forum’s theme, “People at the Borders: Culture, Security and Integration,” the Chairperson @ymahmoudali underscored the compatibility of national sovereignty with deeper cultural, economic and commercial integration. He stressed that communities sharing languages, traditions & cultural heritage across borders are valuable assets for advancing #Agenda2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (@AfCFTA). He called for the development of cross-border corridors, modernisation of border posts, simplified procedures and coordinated border management to facilitate the movement of people and goods. Recognising that border areas are also vulnerable to terrorism, illicit trafficking and organised crime, he emphasised the need for stronger cooperation among neighbouring States. The Chairperson urged AU Member States to ratify the 2014 Niamey Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation and the 2018 Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and the Right of Establishment. He reaffirmed that building a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa depends on effective, people-centred border governance that transforms borders from lines of separation into bridges of cooperation and shared development. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026…

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, was received by H.E. President Alassane Ouattara at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan. Their consultations focused on key continental priorities, including peace & security, regional integration, sustainable financing of the AU, & Africa’s role in a changing global order. The Chairperson @ymahmoudali commended President @AOuattara_PRCI leadership & his longstanding commitment to the AU’s Agenda 2063, recognising Côte d’Ivoire’s important contribution to advancing continental integration & development. On peace & security, they exchanged views on developments in the Sahel, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), & the growing regionalisation of conflicts. The Chairperson underscored the need for African-led solutions, enhanced regional cooperation, & a stronger continental peace & security architecture. He reaffirmed the importance of restoring constitutional order in countries affected by unconstitutional changes of government, stressing that suspension from AU activities must not mean abandoning their populations or interrupting development cooperation. On economic integration, their discussions highlighted the urgency of accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), addressing non-tariff barriers, harmonising customs procedures, improving infrastructure, & facilitating the movement of goods & people across borders. Strengthening regional value chains & expanding intra-African trade remain essential to unlocking Africa’s productive potential & deepening economic integration. The Chairperson also underscored the importance of the African Credit Rating Agency in enhancing the credibility & visibility of African economies through robust, context-sensitive assessments, helping to address misperceptions & improve Africa’s access to international capital markets. Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical uncertainty, the meeting reaffirmed the urgency of mobilising domestic resources & strengthening the AU’s financial autonomy to enable the continent to take greater ownership of its priorities and development agenda. President Ouattara commended the AU’s leadership & the Chairperson’s efforts, reaffirming Côte d’Ivoire’s continued support for an Africa that takes greater responsibility for its own peace, security, & development. He emphasised the importance of leveraging the continent’s resources, expertise, & institutions to shape its future & secure its rightful place in global affairs. Earlier in the morning, at the opening of the 3rd Abidjan Border Forum, the Chairperson called for Africa’s borders to become bridges for peace, security, prosperity & continental integration. He urged Member States to ratify the Niamey Convention & the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, while strengthening cross-border cooperation to combat terrorism, trafficking & organised crime. He also underscored the need for modernised border posts, simplified customs procedures & closer ties among communities are essential to advancing AfCFTA & realising Agenda 2063. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026…

À l’ouverture de la 3ᵉ édition du Forum d’Abidjan sur les frontières, en Côte d’Ivoire, le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine (UA), S.E. M. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, a appelé à faire des frontières africaines de véritables espaces de coopération, de paix, de sécurité et de prospérité partagée. Il a salué l’engagement constant de S.E. M. Alassane Ouattara, Président de la République de Côte d’Ivoire et Champion de l’Agenda 2063, en faveur de la réalisation des ambitions continentales de développement de l’Afrique, et exprimé sa gratitude aux autorités ivoiriennes pour leur accueil chaleureux et leur hospitalité. S’exprimant sur le thème du Forum, « Les populations aux frontières : culture, sécurité et intégration », le Président de la Commission @ymahmoudali a souligné que le respect de la souveraineté nationale est pleinement compatible avec le renforcement de l’intégration culturelle, économique et commerciale. Il a rappelé que les communautés transfrontalières, unies par des langues, des traditions et un patrimoine culturel communs, constituent un atout majeur pour la mise en œuvre de l’Agenda 2063 et le développement de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf). Il a plaidé en faveur du développement des corridors transfrontaliers, de la modernisation des postes-frontières, de la simplification des procédures et du renforcement de la gestion coordonnée des frontières, afin de faciliter la circulation des personnes et des biens. Tout en soulignant les vulnérabilités particulières des zones frontalières face au terrorisme, aux trafics illicites et à la criminalité organisée, il a insisté sur la nécessité d’intensifier la coopération entre les États voisins pour relever efficacement ces défis communs. Le Président de la Commission a également exhorté les États membres de l’Union africaine à ratifier la Convention de Niamey de 2014 sur la coopération transfrontalière et le Protocole de 2018 relatif à la libre circulation des personnes, au droit de résidence et au droit d’établissement. Il a enfin réaffirmé que l’édification d’une Afrique pacifique, intégrée et prospère repose sur une gouvernance efficace des frontières, centrée sur les populations et leurs besoins, afin de transformer les lignes de séparation en passerelles de coopération, de rapprochement et de développement partagé. Lire @ au.int/fr/pressreleases/2026…

H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi, @DCP_Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, leads the African Union delegation to the 2026 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, #Thailand. The AU delegation will engage partners and stakeholders to advance Africa’s priorities, including development financing, private capital mobilization, job creation, regional integration and reform of the global financial architecture. The African Union will continue to advocate for stronger partnerships and increased investment to support Agenda 2063 and Africa’s transformation. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026… #Africa #Agenda2063 #WBGMeetings #IMFMeetings #Bangkok2026 @WBG_Digital @IMFNews

AU Commission Chairperson Helps Officially Launch Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) This evening in St. Louis, #Mauritius, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, joined H.E. Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius; H.E. Dr. Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning of Mauritius; H.E. Nestor Ntahontuye, Prime Minister of the Republic of Burundi; H.E. Ahunna Eziakonwa, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Special Adviser for Africa; and H.E. Denys Denya, Executive Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), alongside members of the private sector and the diplomatic community, for the official launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA). Earlier in the day, the Chairperson briefed the media ahead of the launch, describing AfCRA as an important milestone in Africa’s efforts to strengthen its financial architecture, advance economic sovereignty and ensure that African economies are assessed with greater depth, context and independence. He @ymahmoudali expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Mauritius for hosting AfCRA, noting that the choice of Mauritius was not accidental. The country’s financial and economic development, established international financial centre, regulatory framework and connectivity with African and global markets make it a valuable platform for this continental initiative. Addressing why AfCRA and why now, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stressed that Africa is building a stronger and more resilient financial architecture, with AfCRA set to become an important pillar. The agency will provide African and international investors, as well as economic partners, with reliable, independent and technically rigorous analysis of African economies and credit risk. He underscored that credit ratings directly affect the cost and availability of capital. Where assessments do not sufficiently reflect African data, realities and context, countries can face higher borrowing costs, constraining their ability to finance infrastructure, health, education, energy, industrialisation and other development priorities, at a time when many Member States are already facing significant debt-servicing pressures. AfCRA, he explained, will help address information and analytical gaps by bringing African data, expertise and realities more fully into the assessment process. It is not intended to replace existing international credit-rating agencies, shield borrowers from scrutiny or guarantee favourable ratings. Rather, it will provide an additional, independent and Africa-focused perspective to the market. The Chairperson stressed that AfCRA’s credibility will depend on its independence, professionalism, transparency and adherence to internationally recognised standards. Its ratings must be evidence-based and free from political considerations and conflicts of interest. At the same time, African countries must continue strengthening macroeconomic management, fiscal responsibility, transparency and debt sustainability. The initiative, he noted, is fully aligned with the ambitions of Agenda 2063 and Africa’s pursuit of greater self-reliance and financial sovereignty. A stronger African financial architecture is essential to mobilising the resources required to transform African economies and advance sustainable development. Speaking alongside the Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Jyoti Jeetun described AfCRA’s launch as a landmark moment for Mauritius and Africa, highlighting its potential to reinforce Africa’s financial architecture, deepen capital markets and strengthen the continent’s capacity to mobilise capital for development. She underscored Mauritius’ commitment to serving as a platform connecting capital with African opportunities, including in infrastructure, renewable energy, telecommunications, healthcare and agribusiness, while stressing that AfCRA’s independence, professionalism and robust methodology will be critical to building market confidence. H.E. Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), provided the institutional context behind AfCRA, recalling that the AU endorsed its establishment in 2017 and that the APRM was subsequently entrusted with supporting the process of translating that decision into an operational institution. She highlighted the APRM’s contribution to generating evidence on limitations and biases in the assessment of African sovereign risk; developing AfCRA’s technical, operational and institutional framework; strengthening Member States’ understanding of credit-rating methodologies; and establishing governance arrangements to safeguard its analytical and operational independence. The APRM CEO emphasised that credibility will be AfCRA’s greatest asset. Its ratings must be evidence-based, transparent, technically rigorous and independent. She called on African governments and institutions to provide accurate and timely information, while encouraging investors, financial institutions and the media to scrutinise AfCRA’s work rigorously. At the official launch, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the establishment of AfCRA as a watershed moment in Africa’s economic history and a significant step towards strengthening the continent’s financial sovereignty. He acknowledged the leadership of AfCRA, H.E. Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre and the APRM team, as well as AU policy organs, African financial institutions, the African Development Bank, the United Nations and other partners whose commitment and support have contributed to bringing AfCRA to fruition. The Chairperson underscored that Africa must become a leading participant in shaping the evolving global economic and financial order. AfCRA will contribute to this objective by strengthening African capacity, improving understanding of economic trends, providing objective assessments of risks associated with African economies and contributing to the work of Africa’s shared financial institutions. He stressed that Africa must meet global standards while ensuring that its economies are assessed through greater access to African data, expertise and economic realities. AfCRA is therefore not about seeking favourable ratings, but about ensuring credible, independent and context-sensitive assessments that contribute to a more balanced global financial architecture. He further noted that perceptions of African risk have consequences for the cost of capital and the continent’s ability to mobilise resources for development. African institutions therefore have a responsibility to advocate for the interests of African economies and help address structural challenges in global financial markets. The Chairperson commended the APRM, AU institutions, African financial institutions, development partners and other stakeholders for their sustained efforts in establishing AfCRA, and congratulated Mauritius for its leadership and for providing a conducive environment for this important continental institution. The official launch of AfCRA marks another step towards an Africa that is more confident, economically sovereign and better positioned to shape its own narrative and destiny. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026… @APRMorg

" The African Union is taking concrete steps to strengthen Africa's financial sovereignty and reshape the continent's financial architecture. The launch of the African Credit Rating Agency (#AfCRA) marks an important historic milestone towards developing transparent, independent, credible, and Africa-focused credit assessments that better reflect the continent's economic realities and investment potential, while addressing longstanding concerns about structural biases in global credit assessments. Africa is investable. Africa is bankable. Africa is ready to define its own financial future. Congratulations to the APRM Secretariat for this major milestone on behalf of the Union." - H.E Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi, @DCP_Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission @APRMorg

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, @ymahmoudali, has arrived in the Republic of Mauritius to attend the official launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (#AfCRA), scheduled to take place tomorrow. The Chairperson was received upon arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport by H.E. Ms. Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning of the Republic of Mauritius. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026… @PMOMauritius @Ramgoolam_Dr @EDBMauritius

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, @ymahmoudali, warmly congratulates H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali on his re-election as Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for another five-year term. As host of the AU Headquarters and the diplomatic capital of Africa, #Ethiopia holds a special place in the continental family, said the Chairperson. The Chairperson looks forward to continued close cooperation with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government in advancing Africa’s integration, peace, security and development agenda. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/2026… @AbiyAhmedAli @PMEthiopia @MFAEthiopia